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Support Center
HELPDESK - SOCIAL SERVICES HELPDESK ON EU FUNDS
Portugal
Background introduction and architecture
Portugal 2030 embodies the Partnership Agreement to be established between Portugal and the European Commission, setting the main strategic objectives for the application, between 2021 and 2027, of the global amount of 23 thousand M€.
Its programming is built around five strategic objectives of the European Union: a Europe that is smarter, greener, more connected, more social and closer to its citizens.
Portugal 2030 has as its strategic framework the Portugal 2030 Strategy, approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 98/2020, of November 13, 2020, structured around four central thematic agendas for the development of the economy, society and the territory of Portugal in the horizon of 2030.
Portugal 2030 is implemented through 12 programmes: four thematic in scope – Demography, qualifications and inclusion; Innovation and digital transition; Climate Action and Sustainability and the Sea; five regional in scope, corresponding to the NUTS II of the Mainland, two from the Autonomous Regions and one from Technical Assistance. Added to these are the European Territorial Cooperation Programs in which Portugal participates.
Total amount of shared management funds and respective distribution by theme and/or type of fund.
The sum comes from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) – 11.5 billion euros, plus 139 million euros relating to European Territorial Cooperation (CTE); ESF+ (European Social Fund) – €7.8 billion; from the Cohesion Fund – 3.1 billion euros; the Just Transition Fund – €224 million and the European Fund for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture (EMFF) – €393 million.
These figures also include transfers to the Interconnect Europe Facility – €1,048 billion.
The Partnership Agreement reflects Portugal’s strong commitment to the coordinated use of cohesion policy funds with the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism and focuses on EU priorities and the investment strategy and priorities identified at the national level. See the press release for more information on these funds that intend to materialize the transformation of Portugal based on the qualification and training of human resources, social inclusion, innovation and digital transformation, climate transition and sustainability, taking into account demographic evolution and territorial cohesion.
Selection of relevant policy objectives for social services
The new Portugal 2030 Program aims to contribute to the strategic objective“A more social and inclusive Europe, through the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (PEDS)”, collaborating towards the European goals defined in its Action Plan:
- Increase to 78% the employment rate of the population between 20 and 64 years old
- Ensure that at least 60% of adults participate annually in education and training actions
- Reduce the number of people living in poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030
- Respond to the challenges identified in the specific recommendations addressed to Portugal
The Portugal 2030 Strategy is structured around four thematic agendas, two of which focus on social services:
Agenda 1 – People First: better demographic balance, greater inclusion, less inequality
1.1 Demographic sustainability
1.2 Promoting inclusion and fighting exclusion
1.3 Resilience of the health system
1.4. Decent and affordable housing guarantee
1.5 Combating inequalities and discrimination
Agenda 2 – Innovation, Digitization and Skills as drivers of development
2.1 Promotion of the knowledge society
2.2 Business innovation
2.3 Qualification of human resources
2.4 Qualification of institutions
In addition, the Demographics, Qualifications and Inclusion Program (PDQI) will contribute to responding to the demographic challenge, supporting different public policies and acting in three fundamental dimensions: increased birth rates, to ensure that families have the children they want; promotion of migrant integration and talent retention policies; and response to the challenges of aging meet the full text of the PDQI, or go to Public Consultation on the ConsultaLex platform.
National/regional programs
Funded by the ESF+. It complies almost entirely with OP 4, with extensive intervention in the fields of Active Employment Policies, Vocational and Higher Education and Training, Social Inclusion and Equality and non-discrimination. It covers the less developed regions of mainland Portugal, with the exception of supporting the most needy, in which it also supports the regions of the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon and the Algarve.
Financed by the ERDF and ESF+ Funds. It targets the less developed regions of the mainland and complies, mainly with OP1, supporting digitalisation, innovation and R&D and the internationalization of companies and interface institutions and the scientific system. It also supports companies in OP2 and OP4, in decarbonization and asset training projects, respectively.
Financed by ERDF and ESF+. The Regional Programs mobilize most of the OPs, with particular emphasis on OP5, OP2 and OP1. These OPs are particularly focused on the territorial dimension of public policies/territorialisation of public policies, also including the Territorial Plans for a Just Transition, to be financed by the Fund for a Just Transition.
Center
Financed by ERDF and ESF+. The Regional Programs mobilize most of the OPs, with particular emphasis on OP5, OP2 and OP1. These OPs are particularly focused on the territorial dimension of public policies/territorialisation of public policies, also including the Territorial Plans for a Just Transition, to be financed by the Fund for a Just Transition.
Lisbon
Financed by ERDF and ESF+. The Regional Programs mobilize most of the OPs, with particular emphasis on OP5, OP2 and OP1. These OPs are particularly focused on the territorial dimension of public policies/territorialization of public policies.
Alentejo
Financed by ERDF and ESF+. The Regional Programs mobilize most of the OPs, with particular emphasis on OP5, OP2 and OP1. These OPs are particularly focused on the territorial dimension of public policies/territorialisation of public policies, also including the Territorial Plans for a Just Transition, to be financed by the Fund for a Just Transition.
Financed by ERDF and ESF+. The Regional Programs mobilize most of the OPs, with particular emphasis on OP5, OP2 and OP1. These OPs are particularly focused on the territorial dimension of public policies/territorialization of public policies.
Azores
Financed by ERDF and ESF+. The Regional Programs mobilize most of the OPs, with particular emphasis on OP5, OP2 and OP1. These OPs are particularly focused on the territorial dimension of public policies/territorialization of public policies.
Program governance
The governance of the European funds foresees a three-tier structure (the governance model for the European Structural and Investment Funds for the period 2021-2027 has not yet been published):
- Political Coordination Level: Interministerial Coordination Commission
- Level of Technical Coordination: Agency for Development and Cohesion (FEDER+FSE+FC); FEADER National Coordination Committee; FEAMP Steering Committee
- Management Authorities
Thematic concentrations and their percentage
| Strategy 2030 | Thematic Agendas | Portugal 2030 | Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) | Total PRR + PT 2030 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People First: Better demographic balance, greater inclusion, less inequality | 3 865 | 17% | 5 236 | 31% | 9 102 | 23% |
| Digitization, Innovation and Qualification as Development Engines | 8 329 | 36% | 6 397 | 38% | 14 723 | 37% |
| Climate Transition and Resource Sustainability | 4 779 | 21% | 4 187 | 25% | 8 966 | 23% |
| A Country Competitive Externally and Cohesion Internally | 5 329 | 23% | 823 | 5% | 6 152 | 16% |
| Technical assistance | 693 | 693 | ||||
| Total | 22 995 | 100% | 16 444 | 100% | 39 639 | 100% |
Existing or future initiatives to facilitate access to EU funds
The Balcão dos Fundos is the central point of access to European funds, where applications for support are submitted.
This new platform continues the work developed at Balcão 2020, providing new features such as:
- Application of the only once principle, by promoting interoperability with data and information already residing in other Public Administration sources, which exempts users from entering data that they have already provided on other public platforms on the platform;
- Access with Mobile Digital Key, in addition to existing accesses at the 2020 Branch;
- Integrated vision and management regarding the Portugal 2020 and Portugal 2030 programming periods, namely:
- Notices of opening of applications, open and closed, which allows you to always be aware of funding opportunities;
- Current account, where users can consult updated information in real time on the status of each of their operations, in their different phases;
- Balcão dos Fundos mobile application, which allows users to access information on open notices and on their operations from their mobile phone;
- Intelligent search engine;
- Possibility of getting help.
The Line of Funds was reinforced to provide a better service to Program beneficiaries, as well as to entities or citizens who want to see more general questions clarified, facilitating agile, close and transparent access to information on European Funds.
The Line provides support within the scope of Portugal 2020, Portugal 2030 (as soon as applications are opened), the PRR, the Framework Loan with the European Investment Bank (EQ EIB) and Minimis Aid, and answers questions related to :
- Technical support to the Balcão dos Fundos;
- Notices and Operations;
- General information.
References
Managing Authorities:
- Madeira Regional Development Institute
- Commission for the Coordination and Regional Development of the Center
- AUTONOMOUS REGION OF THE AZORES Regional Directorate for Planning and Structural Funds
- Commission for the Coordination and Regional Development of the Alentejo
- Commission for the Coordination and Regional Development of Lisbon and the Tagus Valley
- Commission for the Coordination and Regional Development of the Algarve
- North Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Background introduction and architecture
- Total amount of shared management funds and respective distribution
- Selection of relevant policy objectives for social services
- National/regional programs
- Program governance
- Thematic concentrations and their percentage
- Existing or future initiatives to facilitate access to EU funds
- References
HELPDESK Support
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
HELPDESK Support